The Happy Hoofer

Very funny, honest and insightful. Beautifully read by Celia Imrie. What a charming wiity book

Celia did a great job of narrating her biography here. She puts the right amount of humour and sensitivity into her story, and has an excellent speaking voice. My only criticism, the only reason I didn't give it five stars ... It was too short, and I would have like more detail in places. But I still recommend this book, even if you are a only a slight fan of Celia's.

I admire Celia Imrie's acting and I enjoyed this book. It is beautifully read, as you'd expect. I had a sense that we're getting very much the public Celia, but then I thought that this is actually a very dignified way to have written the book: it's not tabloid, and nor is she. In fact I was unaware of the odd tabloid intrusions she has had to deal with in the past, to which she does refer. I loved the stories about fellow actors most. Lovely insights and observations.

If you like biographies of actors, and if you like Celia Imrie, then you will like this. It contains a reasonable amount of insights into Imrie's personal life: her backgound, her likes and dislikes and the trajectory of her career. It is well written and well read and there is no more name dropping than normal. There are also some very interesting apects to her family history that I was unaware of, which have clearly coloured her life. It is not a kiss and tell memoir, although for some reason I felt that it could have gone that way, had it not been that she wrote it whilst looking after her teenage son, whom she would not wish to embarass. After reading this book, I respect Celia Imrie for her individuality and I think I like her all the more for it.

I have always loved Celia in the many and diverse roles she has played. This warm and witty memoir reflects the breadth of her talent, intellect and kindness. Love Ya X